 40 year-old Christopher Allen serves as Writer, Producer, and Director for the bulk of his feature film projects. Originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky, Allen and his family relocated to Madison, Indiana in 1973. The second of three children, Allen began his pursuit of filmmaking when he was 21 years-old. Receiving an "epiphany" while sitting in a pizza parlor one day, Allen soon packed all of his earthly belongings into his tiny car, and headed to Florida to study film and television production. Within two months of his arrival, Allen quickly set his goals into motion by securing a position with a low powered television station (TV-20) in Melbourne, Florida. The fledgling operation green-lighted a variety/talk show in which Allen hosted and wrote it's early shows in late 1992. "It was a blast." recalled Allen. "Here I was not two months into living in Florida, and I could now call home and tell everyone I was hosting a TV show." The show was the perfect showcase for several regional bands who sought free publicity, as well as other interesting guests. "I had some rappers on-- just when rap was making the scene. One spiritual adviser who I ended up putting to tears. Some weird UFO conspiracy dude who believed God would end up 'beaming' his believers into his orbiting space craft. It was a trip." Allen added. With his intentions focused on learning as much as he could about filmmaking, Allen submersed himself into the scene in central Florida. Meeting dozens of independent screenwriters and producers, Allen also had the guidance from the film theory classes he was enrolled in at Brevard College in Melbourne. "That's where I saw my first Kenneth Anger film." Said Allen, shuddering as he remembers. "Here I was, this stupid 21 year-old who's only cinematic diet was Back to the Future and Star Wars-- and now I'm studying Gay, leather clad bikers bearing crucifixes in some classroom." quipped an amused Allen. Leather or no leather, Allen continued his lessons and learned more about screenwriting. His ultimate goal... to make a film about his deceased friend who passed on in 1989. Allen's original goal in making films was placed on the back burner during late 1992 and early 1993. The demands of daily television were taking its toll on Allen. That combined with a full time job and getting an education required too much from the young visionary. "I quit the show in spring of 93'. There was no way I could do it anymore. I couldn't balance all three acts at the time... I don't think anybody could have done it for any period of time." Allen said. "You Got It!", Allen's first venture into television died quickly thereafter, and so did TV-20 a year later. "I called the station manager up one day to see how things were going, and found out they went belly up. Good thing I jumped ship when I did." added Allen. "Nothing was going to stop me from making that (The Living Years). I ate, slept, drank 'Living Years' for a period of almost five years. And it sucked at times because here were kids my age going out and having fun while I sat at home typing up a screenplay." The film officially premiered on June 7th, 1996 in Madison, Indiana. Nearly two years of planning and rehearsals went into the project, costing Allen and his other two Producers well over $25,000. "It flopped. And there just isn't any other way of looking at it. Sure you can say I learned a lot, or whatever, but it did teach me one thing... Don't finance a film with two of your closest friends. And plan your shots." The film did receive some worthy praise for it's content and overall effort. "I remember not a lot of people thought we could do it. So in a way, we ended up proving to them that yes, we DID do it." said Allen. In spring of 1997, Allen collaborated with The Living Years co-star Mark Overton to produce a 30 minute "short" of a story Allen wrote during post-production of The Living Years. The story, "In My Life" would be the catalyst for Allen's career and endeavors in the Hollywood community. "It opened up a lot of doors for me because it was a beautiful project." The epic drama, capturing 70 years in recent American history, left audiences in tears. "I had an 80 year old man come up to me and grasp my hand. As he held it, it was like... feeling this trembling intensity and conviction throughout his entire life. I can't explain it, but when he told me that my film 'got it right' as to the WWII generation, I knew then I was doing something good." said Allen. This project would eventually become Allen's greatest ambition in getting to the screen. "It’s been thirteen years since I wrote the story, and to this day, I still try to think of ways to tell this incredible story. But unfortunately, the story deserves a larger budget than what I can afford. I hope and pray one day this film is completed." said Allen.  Three short months later in 1997, Allen had a close encounter with a powerful Hollywood player, ICM's Vice Chairman, Ed Limato. "I didn't know who he was at the time, but I kept seeing his name in the trades (Variety, Hollywood Reporter) after my visit, and it then hit me-- 'Wow, this guy is one major player!" replied Allen. "Then when I found out this guy rep'd Mel [Gibson], Liam Neeson, and Wynona Ryder, I thought I'd better make a good impression. To make a long story short, nothing ever happened with Ed except I got to date his niece." With every possible creative and financial avenue exhausted in Madison, Allen left Madison for Indianapolis to re-start his career. "I hit the ground running," he said. "Within six months, I was casting 'In My Life' and shooting by December of '99. Realizing the project was too large for his means, Allen unwillingly cancelled production and re-shifted his focus on more contemporary pieces. "In My Life has this ten year history of false starts. I did the short in '97, tried in '99 and '05, but this project operates on a clock my eyes cannot see." Allen said. Arriving in Indianapolis in January 1999, Allen had to re-assemble his network from scratch. "In Madison, I had all of my contacts in Cincinnati and Louisville. Indy was harder to set up base because I knew absolutely no one here." Allen’s first priority was getting a job. Landing at ATA Airlines, Allen soon discovered another lifelong passion... aviation. "My original intent was to have a job that worked for me, providing a way to LA or New York to sell my films." Allen added. "Little did I know that the same aviation bug that had bit my Grandfather and my Dad also bit me." From there, Allen set out to multiple projects. A film originally titled "A Time For The Heart" (a title he later used on his 2009 film), and "In My Life". Both films collapsed as Allen set out in a darker direction with his 2003 film, "A Certain Justice". Shot in Indianapolis during 2001, Allen explored the seedier elements of the underground crime scene, crafting a story that is, by his standards, "not what he wants to be remembered by". "That film [A Certain Justice] was a fantastic project. I had an extraordinary team that was behind me, and we did some pretty amazing things that were unparalleled for microcinema then. But it was a very dark period in my life at that time, and I gave up on the philosophy that people wanted to see cheery, loving films. I threw that concept out the window with ‘A Certain Justice’." Allen’s personal life began dictating more of his time after "A Certain Justice". "I had ignored my personal and family life for so long, and wanted to work on that for a few years." Married in 2003, Christopher Allen didn’t return to filmmaking until the winter of 2006 with a ridiculous concept he and friend Michael Yheulon had conjured up during one night of watching the classic Batman TV series. "Mike and I thought, ‘What if Shatner and Adam West could face off together in a over-dramatic face off, upstaging and out-monologuing each other?’ Hence, ‘Star Trek vs. Batman’ was born." The production affiliated RACSO Motion Pictures alongside Logansport’s MagicHouse Productions, a studio outfit owned and operated by Mark Racop, an avid Batman fan. The successful collaboration would continue with 2009’s “A Time For The Heart” and future projects. A devastating series of personal tragedies hit Allen in 2007 with his father’s diagnosis of a glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor. “It came right after I was canned from my job,” said Allen. “It was horrible, but it cemented Dad and I’s relationship and love. There was nothing left unsaid between us when he died on April 6, 2008.” Allen wrote a poignant eulogy for his father, and delivered it at his service on April 26, 2008, which can be read here. Utilizing his video skills, Allen produced a moving documentary for Bruce’s life, which can be viewed below. Less than one year later, a day shy of the one-year mark of his father’s funeral, Allen buried his mother, Linda [Allen] Ferguson. “There’s not much I can add to the bitterness of losing your parents that hasn’t already been said. It’s a loss one never accepts, no matter how tough they think they are.” Despite the heartbreaking grief, Allen and his wife welcomed a new baby boy, Samuel, on September 17, 2008, countering the year of loss and sorrow. He is affectionately dubbed “Wub Aah Gee”, and is Allen’s finest production to date. “To see the miracle of life before your eyes is something words just cannot do justice. My son has completed my life in so many wonderful ways.” Allen noted. Allen's Full Credit List Includes: The Living Years (Feature) Shot 1995, Premiered 1996 In My Life (Short) Shot & Premiered- 1997 A Certain Justice (Feature) Shot 2001, Premiered 2003 Star Trek Vs. Batman (Short) Shot & Premiered 2006 A Time for the Heart (Feature) Shot 2007, Premiered 2009 Quantum Leap: A Leap To Di For (Short) Shot 2008, Premiered 2009  |
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